What is integrative therapy? A plain guide

Integrative therapy is a way of working in which the therapist draws on ideas and techniques from more than one type of therapy, and brings them together to suit the person in front of them. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) describes it as tailoring an approach specifically for you, based on the belief that no single method helps everyone in every situation. Common ingredients include person-centred, psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural (CBT) ideas.

Key points

• Integrative therapy combines elements of different approaches rather than following one fixed model.
• The BACP says it may include person-centred, psychodynamic and CBT elements, among others.
• The aim is to fit the therapy to you, your history and what you want help with.
• The BACP lists anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, bereavement and low self-esteem among the things it can help with.
• As with any therapy, the relationship between you and your therapist matters a great deal.

What does integrative mean in therapy?

There are many types of talking therapy, each with its own theory about why people struggle and what helps. Some therapists train in one approach and stay with it. An integrative therapist has training that brings several approaches together, and uses them in a considered way rather than picking techniques at random.

The UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) groups integrative work with humanistic approaches, and describes different theories being adapted and blended to suit each client’s individual needs. The BACP makes a similar point: an integrative counsellor looks at you and your circumstances, rather than assuming one approach will fit everyone.

In practice, this means the therapy can shift as you do. Early on you might mostly need space to be heard. Later you might want to understand where a pattern comes from, or try something different in your day-to-day life. An integrative therapist can work with each of these.

Which approaches does an integrative therapist draw on?

It varies from one therapist to another, because it depends on their training. The BACP describes three common strands.

Person-centred ideas

Person-centred therapy was developed by the psychologist Carl Rogers in the 1940s. The BACP explains that the therapist treats you as the expert on your own life and aims to offer three things: acceptance and valuing of you without conditions, honesty and openness, and a genuine effort to understand things from your point of view. The idea is that people can grow and change when these conditions are in place.

Psychodynamic ideas

Psychodynamic therapy grew out of psychoanalysis. It looks at how past experiences, including early relationships, and feelings we are not fully aware of can shape how we feel and behave now. The BACP describes it as helping to bring some of this into awareness, so you can see how the past may be affecting the present.

CBT-informed ideas

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The BACP describes CBT elements within integrative work as helping you notice unhelpful patterns in how you think and act, and using practical tools to change them.

Some integrative therapists also draw on other approaches, where these suit the person.

What is an integrative session like?

Sessions are usually a conversation. You bring what is on your mind, and the therapist listens, asks questions and, at times, offers a different way of looking at things. Depending on what you need, a session might focus on how you are feeling right now, on a pattern that keeps repeating, on something from your past, or on a practical step you want to try.

The BACP says you can expect a safe, non-judgemental space to explore your thoughts and feelings, and regular reviews of how the work is going: what is helping, what is not, and what has changed. You can raise this yourself at any point. If something is not working for you, saying so is useful and will not offend a good therapist.

Most therapy takes place in regular sessions of around 50 minutes. How often you meet, and for how long, is agreed between you and your therapist and can be reviewed as you go.

What can integrative therapy help with?

Because it is flexible, integrative therapy is used for a wide range of difficulties. The BACP lists anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, addiction, bereavement and low self-esteem, and says it can help with both short- and long-term issues. People also come to integrative therapy without a clear label, simply feeling stuck, low or unlike themselves.

For some conditions, NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) recommends specific, structured treatments. The BACP notes, for example, that NICE recommends CBT for anxiety, depression, panic attacks and OCD. If that applies to you, it is worth asking any therapist how they would work with it, and you can read more in my guide on which therapy helps with OCD.

Is integrative therapy right for me?

It may suit you if:

• You are not sure what kind of therapy you want, and would like an approach that can adapt.
• You want both space to talk and some practical ideas to try.
• You are curious about how your past may be shaping your present, without wanting therapy to be only about the past.
• Your difficulties overlap, for example anxiety alongside low mood, a loss or a relationship difficulty.

It may be less of a fit if you are specifically looking for one particular structured treatment delivered in a set format. In that case, you might look for a therapist who specialises in that model, or talk to your GP or NHS Talking Therapies.

Whatever the approach, the BACP notes that your relationship with your therapist generally matters more than the approach they use. An initial conversation is a good way to get a sense of whether you feel comfortable with someone.

How do I find a qualified integrative therapist?

In the UK, “counsellor” and “psychotherapist” are not protected titles, so it is worth checking that a therapist is registered with a professional body accredited by the Professional Standards Authority, such as the BACP or UKCP. My guide on how to check a therapist is BACP registered explains how.

It is also reasonable to ask a therapist which approaches they draw on and why. A good integrative therapist should be able to explain this in plain language.

In England, you can also refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies for free support with anxiety and depression if you are registered with a GP. The type of therapy offered depends on what you need and what is available locally.

How I work

I am an integrative psychotherapist registered with the BACP. I draw on person-centred, psychodynamic and CBT-informed ideas, and I work at a trauma-informed pace, which means we go at a speed that feels manageable for you. I see adults individually and as couples, online by secure video and in person in Farringdon, Central London, in English or Turkish. Many people come to me with anxiety or depression, and others with difficulties they find harder to name.

If you are in crisis, call 999, go to A&E, call NHS 111, or contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free, 24/7).

If you would like to find out whether working together might suit you, you are welcome to get in touch to arrange an initial consultation. You can ask how I work, and there is no pressure to decide anything straight away.